Product review: Sofia Vergara's favorite "Coffee Bar"
When I purchased my last coffee maker during a 'Friends and Family' sale at Bloomingdales (like 5+ years ago), it was pretty top-of-the-line. I'm not talking about a fancy Nespresso machine, just a solid coffee maker with all the bells and whistles: Bean grinder, clock, and that awesome "program" button you can pre-set to have your coffee brewing the minute you wake up. It's been a great device and one that even moved across the country with me 1.5 years ago!
A few weeks ago, I decided to clean my coffee maker for the first time ever in ages. Having never changed the machine's water filter (ever), I removed the cartridge and almost threw up. Overgrown with silt and muck, I was beyond disgusted and horrified. As one of those people who always assumed that Brita filters were a conspiracy and serious waste of money - not to mention rolling my eyes at friends who actually had one in their fridge - I quickly realized: Maybe I was the asshole! Perhaps water filter contraptions weren't a bunch of BS, after all, judging by how much crap mine had collected over the years. Forgoing an attempt to clean my diseased machine (WTF had I been drinking all this time!?!?!), I decided to go out and purchase something brand new.
I'd be a liar if I said that the brilliant advertising/marketing behind those Ninja Coffee Bar commercials with Sofia Vergara didn't work...Because you're looking at the newest owner of one!
Always one to shudder away from instruction manuals and intimidating drawings, I was pleased to find a very user-friendly "quick start guide" upon ripping in to the box containing my Ninja. Aside from the machine, carafe, and filter compartment, the Ninja also came with a travel mug, measuring device, and a milk frother (sold separately).
Depending on the size of your cup or carafe, Ninja's AUTO-IQ Technology draws just the right amount of water needed from the reservoir. In terms of flavor and strength, you are able to select the graduated level of coffee-to-water concentration. Options range from lesser to higher intensity: "Classic Brew,"Rich Brew," "Over Ice Brew," or "Specialty Brew." So far, I'm hooked on the "Rich Brew," but am super curious to try the "Over Ice Brew." I cannot tell you how thrilling it is to be able to make both hot and cold coffee from the same machine. At home!
Forgoing the carafe, I've been making single-cups in the morning before work. There's this awesome "cup holder" feature that lowers and sits just above the carafe plate warmer. Once the coffee has finished brewing, there's a "drip stop" switch that you can hit to put the kibosh on those annoying coffee droplets that burn your hand and dirty the warmer. Brilliant!
My only complaint is that the Ninja does not have an in-machine bean grinder (...but the company sells those separately. Go figure!). Otherwise, I'm one happy customer!
The Ninja Coffee Bar retails for around $150 and has been worth every penny. Go out and treat yourself! I promise that you'll adore this machine and love the excellent coffee it produces even more!
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Until we eat again,
Lindsay, The Lunch Belle